A virgin, a mother? Yes, not, as some say, by way of adultery, but because the Holy Spirit had come upon her, and the power of the Almighty had overshadowed her; wherefore also that holy thing which was born of her was called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). When the angel revealed to her this plan of God, Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy Word.”
Mary was the willing handmaid of the Lord to bring Jesus into the world as a babe. She gave birth to Him; she nurtured Him. Just think: a woman, like you and me, actually had the unique function of giving birth to the sinless Jesus!
Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement expressed her willingness to be what God ordained her to be. She voluntarily put herself at God’s disposal to become the mother of Jesus who came to save sinners. This is why His birth brought so much joy to the world, and why it gives us so much joy to commemorate His birth.
How can we redeemed women best express our gratitude for what Jesus Christ did for us? To be sure, we hope to sing His praises this Christmas. We indeed marvel again and again that the Father sent His Son to take care of our sins by Jesus’ active and passive obedience. We know this involved deepest humiliation for the Son of God. But who is equal to render Jesus the praise due Him? And who is equal adequately to praise God the Father for giving us His Son? Besides, who is equal duly to praise the Holy Spirit for applying the work of redemption to us so that the righteousness of Jesus becomes our righteousness?
Yes, who is equal to all this? Let us in sincerity respond by saying: “Lord, I am not equal to all this, but graciously accept me as a handmaid of Thine willing to be what Thou hast ordained me to be, and to do what Thou hast ordained me to do. Lord, may I fill Thy place for me, whatever the nature of they place may be, in a manner that brings glory and honor to Thee.”
Would that our joy this Christmas might be genuinely indicative of the kind of devotion expressed in the given response to the following biblically oriented questions:
Questions:
1. Do we really belong to and serve the faithful Savior, Jesus Christ?
2. Do we faithfully search the Scriptures which testify of Jesus?
3. Do we appropriate the covenant promises God made to us?
4. Do we accept the full authority of the Scriptures for our lives?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions:
1. Do we exercise ourselves unto godliness?
2. Do we forsake the ways of the world and walk in the ways of God?
3. Do we hold fast to that which is good and strive to abstain from that which is evil?
4. Do we keep our hearts with all diligence knowing that out of it are the issues of life?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions:
1. Do we respect our fellowmen no matter what their race or color?
2. Do we let our moderation be known unto all men?
3. Do we stretch out our hand to the poor?
4. Are we satisfied with our lot in life and grateful besides?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions: (to mothers)
1. Do you rear your children covenantry?
2. Do you treat your children as a heritage of the Lord?
3. Do you call “murder” murder also when the unborn babe is disposed of by abortion?
4. Do you acknowledge that God is sovereign over your body, not you?
5. Do you see as your primary circle of Christian service your God-given family?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions:
1. Do we labor and pray for the gathering in of the spiritual harvest?
2. Do our prayers reach out to the ends of the earth?
3. Do we seek to live the Gospel at home and to spread it abroad?
4. Do we seek to let our light shine wherever circumstance lead us?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Dear women, may God grant us all much joy this Christmas, and may the New Year, more than any previous year, abound in evidence that we are the handmaidens of the Lord indeed!
Mary was the willing handmaid of the Lord to bring Jesus into the world as a babe. She gave birth to Him; she nurtured Him. Just think: a woman, like you and me, actually had the unique function of giving birth to the sinless Jesus!
Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement expressed her willingness to be what God ordained her to be. She voluntarily put herself at God’s disposal to become the mother of Jesus who came to save sinners. This is why His birth brought so much joy to the world, and why it gives us so much joy to commemorate His birth.
How can we redeemed women best express our gratitude for what Jesus Christ did for us? To be sure, we hope to sing His praises this Christmas. We indeed marvel again and again that the Father sent His Son to take care of our sins by Jesus’ active and passive obedience. We know this involved deepest humiliation for the Son of God. But who is equal to render Jesus the praise due Him? And who is equal adequately to praise God the Father for giving us His Son? Besides, who is equal duly to praise the Holy Spirit for applying the work of redemption to us so that the righteousness of Jesus becomes our righteousness?
Yes, who is equal to all this? Let us in sincerity respond by saying: “Lord, I am not equal to all this, but graciously accept me as a handmaid of Thine willing to be what Thou hast ordained me to be, and to do what Thou hast ordained me to do. Lord, may I fill Thy place for me, whatever the nature of they place may be, in a manner that brings glory and honor to Thee.”
Would that our joy this Christmas might be genuinely indicative of the kind of devotion expressed in the given response to the following biblically oriented questions:
Questions:
1. Do we really belong to and serve the faithful Savior, Jesus Christ?
2. Do we faithfully search the Scriptures which testify of Jesus?
3. Do we appropriate the covenant promises God made to us?
4. Do we accept the full authority of the Scriptures for our lives?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions:
1. Do we exercise ourselves unto godliness?
2. Do we forsake the ways of the world and walk in the ways of God?
3. Do we hold fast to that which is good and strive to abstain from that which is evil?
4. Do we keep our hearts with all diligence knowing that out of it are the issues of life?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions:
1. Do we respect our fellowmen no matter what their race or color?
2. Do we let our moderation be known unto all men?
3. Do we stretch out our hand to the poor?
4. Are we satisfied with our lot in life and grateful besides?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions: (to mothers)
1. Do you rear your children covenantry?
2. Do you treat your children as a heritage of the Lord?
3. Do you call “murder” murder also when the unborn babe is disposed of by abortion?
4. Do you acknowledge that God is sovereign over your body, not you?
5. Do you see as your primary circle of Christian service your God-given family?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Questions:
1. Do we labor and pray for the gathering in of the spiritual harvest?
2. Do our prayers reach out to the ends of the earth?
3. Do we seek to live the Gospel at home and to spread it abroad?
4. Do we seek to let our light shine wherever circumstance lead us?
Answer: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.
Dear women, may God grant us all much joy this Christmas, and may the New Year, more than any previous year, abound in evidence that we are the handmaidens of the Lord indeed!